Defining Success For The 2024 Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears have dominated headlines this offseason, drawing significant attention as they gear up for the upcoming season. Undoubtedly, expectations have soared for the Bears, with star power heading to Chicago. The notable acquisitions of Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift stand out as game-changing moves. Why? Because General Manager Ryan Poles has paved the way for a rookie quarterback to come to Chicago and find immediate success. Amidst speculations surrounding the departure of Justin Fields and strong indications pointing toward the Bears selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, defining success for the Bears next season becomes challenging.

What Success Looks Like For The 2024 Chicago Bears

Prioritizing Long-Term Success Over Immediate Results

Chicago Bears fans have anxiously been waiting for another playoff appearance. The last time the Bears made the playoffs was back in 2018, which ended poorly. Fast forward to today, no one could have guessed the Bears were trading a fourth-round pick for a 31-year-old wide receiver. At first, the trade to acquire Allen indicates that the Bears are ready for a playoff push, which makes sense. The team has been rebuilt and revamped to compete against the best teams in the NFL. However, that might not be the case.

There’s a growing sentiment among fans that the Bears should approach the 2024 season with playoff-or-bust expectations. However, considering General Manager Ryan Poles’ perspective on the team, it’s hard to think success only means making the playoffs. Poles operates with a methodical approach, prioritizing long-term success over immediate results. While it’s true that the Bears have made significant strides towards improvement, they’re facing formidable competition within the division, notably the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. While the Bears are poised to win a lot of games next season, securing a playoff spot might prove challenging.

So, what should success be measured as? Success should be gauged by the overall development of the organization. This encompasses factors such as Caleb Williams’ ability to solidify himself as the franchise quarterback for the Chicago Bears, whether Head Coach Matt Eberflus and his coaching staff can achieve a milestone never before seen in Bears history by effectively developing their rookie quarterback, and whether General Manager Ryan Poles can maintain his track record of making level-headed decisions that prioritize the team’s long-term interests. It’s the little details that truly matter in the grand scheme of things.

Learning From Past Mistakes

The Chicago Bears decision to draft Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft was risky. Fields is a phenomenal athlete with all the talent in the world. Nonetheless, talent needs to be molded the right way in the NFL, and unfortunately for Fields, the Bears failed to develop him. Poles understands this and emphasize that although Fields made strides as a quarterback, the timeline with his contract situation and where the Bears are as a team didn’t align. To ensure the next quarterback succeeds, it’s vital to surround him with as much talent as possible. With time, talent will turn into success.